Individualized Family Service Plan: Congruence between professional recommendations and IFSP goal statements.

Abstract

Part H of Public Law 99-457 offered incentives to states to develop services to children, birth through age two, who have or are at risk for developmental delays. A major emphasis is on inclusion of family members as full participants in the design and implementation of services. The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a written plan for services to be implemented for the child and family. This study evaluated critical components of the IFSP document to determine if several assumptions concerning services are substantiated by fact. It is assumed that components specified in the law for content of the IFSP plan will be present on IFSPs, family members will incorporate recommendations made by professional providers into the goals chosen for their child and there will be congruence or match between recommendation and goal statements. It is assumed that all areas of development will be considered when planning programming and that children and their families will receive equitable services regardless of gender, ethnicity or the case manager assisting them. Data were taken from IFSP documents from November 1, 1992 to May 1, 1993. The data revealed a low rate of compliance with the seven requirements for content of the plan specified in P.L. 99-457. Analysis by developmental area showed an emphasis on physical development. A low rate of congruence between recommendation and goal statements was found. Difference in congruence was found when analyzed by case manager, but not by gender or ethnicity. The law enabling services for infants and toddlers with disability incorporates assumptions concerning the development of a plan for services. In this investigation of IFSP documents, several assumptions concerning the IFSP document are not verified by the data.